Siobhan McCormack Ryan
Siobhan is a widely exhibited artist who hails from the heart of Ireland in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Her most recent, high profile commission was The Homecoming, an official portrait to celebrate the inauguration of An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen in 2008.
Although having travelled quite extensively she feels extremely fortunate to be able to follow her chosen path in the lush green pastures of her birthplace. Siobhan holds a B.A. in Fine Art and has studied in the Limerick School of Art and Design, the Grennan Mill Craft School in Kilkenny and Ecole Des Beaux Arts, Nantes, France. After years of working in the community, Siobhan is currently studying an Arts and Empowerment Facilitation course at Crawford Art College in Cork.
She has also held the post of Artist in Resident in County Offaly, which gave her the opportunity to work with many different groups, organisations and school in the development and promotion of the visual arts in Co. Offaly.For such a busy artist she has never been selfish with her time. Indeed, she feels privileged to have had the opportunity to be of some benefit to local organisations, such as being Arts Co-ordinator for the Phoenix festival and head of arts section for the Tullamore Agricultural show.
Siobhan was also one of the founding members and the Arts Co-ordinator for the Canal 200 project. Siobhan states that whatever benefits others may receive from her participation in the type of activity, it is nothing compared to the satisfaction she herself gets.
Recent Projects:
. In June 2009 - in conjunction with the 125th Anniversary of the GAA - Siobhan worked with all the students in Scoil Eoin Phoill, Tullamore, to make life size figures depicting sports people from all the counties in Ireland. The figures went on display at the GAA Centre for Feile 2009.
. Siobhan was honoured to be asked to create a piece of work which was displayed at the opening of the Special Olympics.
. An exhibition of her work was held for the 40th anniversary of Cuan Mhuire Rehabilitation Centre. She also organised and co-designed the Stations of the Cross in the Grotto in Athy.
. She has held many exhibitions both locally and nationally. She has exhibited solely and in conjunction with other renowned artists, such as Ramee Leahy in Kinnity Castle and during the Kilkenny Arts festival.
. Some of the community groups that Siobhan has led art projects with include Centre of Independent Living, Tullamore, Traveller Training Workshop, Dochas - Support Group for people living with Cancer, and Women's groups and the elderly.
. Currently, Siobhan is working on a new collection for the Duan Exhibition. This is inspired by the Offaly Monastic Site of Durrow Abbey, The Book of Durrow, the life of St Colmcille and the surrounding Irish landscape.
